OKC Capitol Building Visit

Our OKC Capitol Building is enormous with over 600 rooms.  It is nearly 100 years old but the dome was only added in 2002.   

 Our guide, John, did a super job of showing us around the building and giving us important details.   He took us first to the Hall of Governors which features a bust of every governor of Oklahoma

This statue is a smaller version of The Guardian, the statue that sits on top of the dome.

 We saw where our Governor and Lieutenant Governor have their offices.

This state seal is found on the ground floor.  We leaned over the railings in the rotunda to see the state seal.

The court room was impressive with marble columns, velvet curtains and ornate ceilings

   Here is a photograph of our current court justices in Oklahoma.

The House of Representatives Chambers are beautiful.  We were able to sit in the gallery and watch discussion on a bill.  The board lit up when it was time to vote.   The majority of names of representatives were green on the voting board which meant a "YES".

Future representatives for our fair state :)

 
 This is one beautiful dome inside and the artwork in the rotunda is breathtaking.

We even had the privilege of a photo session with Senator Clark Jolley and Representatives Lewis Moore and Marian Cooksey.    Our fourth graders had amazing questions for our guides and enjoyed the tour immensely.  I wouldn't be surprised if they ask their parents for a summer excursion back to the Capitol to see more.   It is opened to visitors daily and FREE!  I rode back on the bus smiling.  Another great morning of learning for our fabulous fourth graders.

School Day 1899 Style

Today we traveled back in time to Pleasant Valley School in Stillwater.  It was 1899 and we were students attending that school.  In actual fact, our names were authentic names of students who actually attended this one room school house. For instance, there was Effie, Clarence, George, Bell, Martha, and many more.

 Charming, isn't it?

  


Time for school to begin-boys on one side and girls on the other.

 Teacher Miss Susie begins our lessons.  Boys sit on one side, girls on the other.  

So many things were different from OCS.....slate boards and chalk, ink pots,  a McGuffey Reader as the only textbook,  pumping water to get a drink, and last, by not least, was using an outhouse!!!

 Many  interesting items to look at and guess what they were used for......

Practicing our penmenship was 

very important.  

 Reading together.

 Everyone had an appetite by the time lunch rolled around.  It was a beautiful afternoon as we grabbed our lunch to sit outside.

Those lunches tasted yummy.  We played a few games including "Annie, Annie Over" and sack races.   

Then it was back indoors for more lessons in science and a spelling bee.  School  was over before we knew it and we decided that we will long remember this special day of stepping back in time.  

Westward Ho!

 As we study American history, it is always fun to  consider the details involved in moving a family west in the mid 1800's.  Covered wagons are of great interest to fourth graders, especially the idea that one might have to travel and live in a schooner  for several months.











We learn dimensions of wagons and weight limits (2000 pounds normally).  We also read primary sources to find out exactly was normally put in a wagon for a journey west.



Once we had done our research, we set about constructing our wagons with a partner.

 Such creative ideas!

Now this is a DELUXE wagon!

The insides of the wagons contained handmade furniture, trunks, rugs, and other necessities.

 We invited the second graders to come and view our finished products complete with a family name, motto, and verse!

 Here we are giving a smartboard lesson to our second grade guest.

I think you will agree that our wagons look pretty great and the designers are to commended for their great work.

These wagons were SUPER and I loved watching the partners exchanging ideas and working so well together.  Well done, fourth graders!